150 Years Railway Workshops

Railways were introduced in India in 1853, and as the railway network expanded across the subcontinent, railway workshops emerged as vital components of the system. These workshops became the backbone of locomotive and rolling-stock maintenance, manufacturing, and technological innovation.

Jamalpur Railway Workshop

Established on 8 February 1862, the Jamalpur Railway Workshop is the oldest and one of the largest locomotive repair workshops of Indian Railways. It has long been known for its wide range of manufacturing and engineering activities. Over its illustrious history, Jamalpur has achieved several notable “firsts,” including the manufacture of a steam locomotive and the establishment of a railway rolling mill.

During the steam era, the workshop reached its peak in 1962–63, achieving an output of 600 standard units per month. However, with the phasing out of steam traction in the late 1960s, steam-related activities gradually declined, eventually ending completely in August 1992.

Adapting to changing technology, the workshop diversified into:

• Overhauling and repair of diesel locomotives
• Overhauling and repair of various wagon types
• Manufacture and overhaul of rail-mounted diesel-hydraulic breakdown cranes (20-ton and 140-ton capacity)
• Manufacture and repair of tower cars
• Manufacture of different types of wagons for Indian Railways and CONCOR

Jamalpur Workshop earned its ISO 9001:2000 certification on 28 May 2003, placing it among the top heavy-engineering units in India for rolling-stock manufacturing and periodic overhauls. It has also implemented several environmental and pollution-control measures to maintain a clean and sustainable working environment.

Kanchrapara Railway Workshop

The Kanchrapara Workshop was established in 1863 by the Eastern Bengal Railway at its present location in the Loco Complex at Kanchrapara. The workshop has demonstrated remarkable flexibility and adaptability, modifying its role and product-mix over time.

From supporting the Defence Department during the World Wars to becoming a key base for the Periodic Overhaul (POH) of electric locomotives and EMU stock of Eastern and South Eastern Railways, Kanchrapara has played a crucial role in the evolution of Indian Railways.

Important milestones include:

• Turning out the first electrically overhauled locomotive in 1965
• Completing the first EMU motor coach POH in the same year

Today, the workshop is a leader in:

• Number of EMU coaches overhauled (ranked first in Indian Railways)
• Number of electric locomotives overhauled (ranked second)

Kanchrapara received its ISO 9001:2000 certification in September 2005, and has since upgraded to the ISO 9001:2008 standard, reflecting its commitment to quality, modernization, and continuous improvement.

Commemoration

To honor the 150 years of the Jamalpur and Kanchrapara Railway Workshops, the Department of Posts is issuing a set of two postage stamps and a miniature sheet. These stamps celebrate the rich heritage, technological achievements, and enduring contribution of both workshops to the development of Indian Railways.